How’s That Democrat Transparency Working Out? The Case of Jon Gruber.

President Barack Obama: “My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government … Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.” (President Barack Obama, “Transparency and Open Government,” whitehouse.gov)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “There has never been a more open process for any piece of legislation.” (Eric Zimmermann and Michael O’Brien, “Pelosi tells C-SPAN: ‘There has never been a more open process’” The Hill, 01/05/10)

Now consider this nice little payoff for support of the Democrats’ Health Care Bill.

• “One of the key voices for Congressional health care legislation, MIT economist Jon Gruber, is taking fire … over the fact that he is on contract with the Department of Health and Human Services. He’s been paid $297,600, according to federal documents, to produce ‘a technical memorandum on the estimated changes in health insurance coverage and associated costs and impacts to the government under alternative specifications of health system reform.’ The contract, which was awarded June 19, wasn’t widely known or regularly disclosed.” (Ben Smith, “Gruber responds: ‘Completely consistent,’” Politico, 01/08/09)

• “Jon Gruber, the MIT economist, defended himself this morning after criticism that he’d spoken publicly in favor of the administration’s health care plan without disclosing a nearly $300,000 contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to model the plan’s costs and effects.” (Ben Smith, “Gruber’s disclosure,” Politico, 01/08/09)